Pneumatic heel



G. 1. WINTER.

v PNEUMATIC HEELl APPLICATION vFILED FEB. 19, 192|.

1,399,836. Patented Dec. 13,192.1`

UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J'. VTIN'TER,` OF BUFFALO, N'EW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 HARRY G.

I PHILLIPS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK,

PNEUMATIC HEEL.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 13, 1921.

Application led February` 19, 1921. Serial No. 446,287.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. WINTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and'State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Heels, of which the following'V is a specification.

My present invention pertains to cushion heels, and it contemplates the provision of a heel that is primarily adapted for use in connection with new shoes, and is capable of ready and easy application to a shoe; 'one that is inexpensive to produce and repair; one that overcomes the objectionable run over condition so prevalent in cushion heels now in use and one through the medium of which comfort to the wearer is assured and a neat appearance is at all times givento the shoe.

l My invention also contemplates the provision of a heel that may be easily and inexpensively repaired and at the same time a heel that produces the cushioning effect of a pneumatic chamber.

he invention in all of its details will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings forming part of this specification in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a shoe and showing my novel heel in longitudinal section as applied to the shoe.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation and showing my heel in transverse section as applied to the shoe. c

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the lower lift of my novel heel.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the upper portion of the heel and showing the smooth upper face thereof.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the opposite or lower surface of section 1 Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the lower lift of the heel.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings. l

-The heel of my present invention comprises an upper section 1 and a lower .sec-

tion 2, and said sections are by preference formed of rubber or equivalent material as is the case with cushion heels now in the market.' The sections 1 and 2 are rigidly ning over retained to each other by cementing them together.

The surface of the section 1 that bears against the shoe is perfectly smooth (Fig. 4), and on its lower surface said section 1 is provided with a chamber or cavity 5 and in the direct center of the section. This cavity extends inwardly to approximately the center of the section 1 with respect to the thickness thereof.

Communicating with and extending radially lfrom the cavity 5 are equidistant channels 6 and these channels are proximately one half the depth of the cavity 5.

At its forward and rear ends the lower surfacef the section 1 is provided with comparatively large apertures 6, and the said surfaceis also provided with nail receiving apertures 9 for the reception of nails 11 and the interposed washers 10 (Fig. 2).

By reference particularly to Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings it will be apparent that the lower lift 2 has a perfectly fiat groundgripping surface and in its upper face l provide integral barbs or projections 4 and a comparatively large integral boss 7.

In the practical use of the invention, the section 1 is secured to a shoe in the ordinary well known manner with the chamber 5 directed away from 'the shoe. The lift 2 is then cemented to the under side of the section 1 with the projections 4 resting in the apertures 6. Manifestly the sections when thus arranged have the boss 7 resting 1n the chamber 5 of the section 1 and thus a pneumatic space 8 is formed around the boss 7, in the chamber, 5. t

When the wearer of a' shoe equlpped with my novel Vheel places his foot upon the ground the weight will be thrown on the boss 7 that bears at its upper end on the upper wall of the chamber 5 and thus runother words the heel will be forced fiat againstthe ground.y

Pressure exerted on the boss 7 will cause a pneumatic air cushioning eifect tov be formed in the chamber 7 and resiliency will be imparted to the heel because of the pulling away of the'boss from the upper wall ofthe cavity 5 Ion the initial upward movement of the heel from the ground. Moreover the radial ooves or channel 6 will assist in cushioning the upward movement of the lift 2 is precluded. In

(which is kindred to flattening) of the boss 7 when the weight of the wearer is placed onthe heel.

The construction illustrated and described assures perfect wear in an even manner of the flat surface of the lift 2 and when .this lift is worn down to the lower surface of the section 1, the said lift or what remains of it maybe readily removed and yreplaced with a new lift by a person even 'though said person is unskilled in shoe-repair work.

The section l forms a permanent part of theshoe and will outlast the upper andsole of the said shoe. However, when the lift wears out to an appreciable extent* the expense of replacing the lift is quite small comparedto the cost of an entire new heel.

The heel as a whole comprises nodelicate or inoperative members and because of its construction it may be built up with a new lift and thus the heel greatly adds rather. than detracts from the finished appearance of a shoe at all times, and a-t the same time wear of the lift 2"will not expose the securing nails and marring of a highly polished surface or injure expensive rugs and t-he like.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is l 1. In a heel the combination of an upper section of resilient material, a central chamber formed in the lower face of said section7 vradial grooves surrounding and vcommunicating with the chamber and of slightly less depth than the depth of said chamber, apertures formed in said lower face of the section, a lift adapted to be cemented to the first section, a nipple formed in the upper lface of the lip and constructed and arranged to seat in the` chamber and'bear against the upper wall thereof, and portions on the lift j adjacent the nipple that seat in the 4apertures of the section.

2. In a heel for the purpose specified, the combination of two opposing and removable sections, a cavity formed in the center of one section and extending approximately oney half the thickness ofthe section, radial equi-distant channels surrounding the cavity and communicating therewith and approximately one half the depth thereof,

apertures formed at the 'front and rear of 3. A heel comprising two removable sections, a cavityfformed in the center of one section, channels surrounding the cavity and communicating therewith and a boss formed inthe other section and adapted .to rest in the cavity.

4. In a heel for the purpose specified, the combination of an upper sectlon-having `a smooth surface and a cavity formed in the A opposingV surface, channels formed in the last named surface, apertures for 'fastening means provided in the sections, other apertures adj acent'thefirstapertures and a. lift adapted to be removably secured to the section, and having one smooth surface and a boss formed in 4its other surface and adapted to enter the cavity of the upper section, and integral portions arranged adjacent the boss and adapted to rest in the apertures of the* upper section.

In testimony whereof Ifhavel hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE J. WINTER.

Witnesses: 4

CECILIA M. PERNER, W. H. TIcKNoR, 

